Ash tray with automatic snuffer and ejector



June 2, 1964 A. F. FLEMING ASH TRAY WITH AUTOMATIC 'SNUFFER AND EJECTOR Filed April 4, 1962 INVENTOR.

ALEXANDER F. FLEMING AAA/+4 ATTORNEYS snuffer tubes.

United States Patent 3,135,268 ASH TRAY WITH AUTOMATIC SNUFFER AND EJECTOR Alexander F. Fleming, P.(). Box 364, Maywood, Ill. Filed Apr. 4, 1962, Ser. No. 185,100 8 Claims. (Cl. 131-235) The present invention relates generally to an ash tray and more particularly to an ash tray with an automatic snuffer and ejector.

The ash tray which is the subject matter of the present invention is provided with cigarette snufling tubes in which cigarettes may be deposited. Each tube has a cigarette butt ejector pad and includes an arm for knocking cigarette butts therefrom into the tray.

At the outset, this invention relates to a cigar or cigarette extinguisher.

An object of this invention is to provide novel means adapted to receive a plurality of lighted cigar or cigarette stubs to extinguish the stubs and thereafter eject the extinguished stubs from the extinguisher.

' A further object of this invention is to provide a cigar or cigarette extinguisher which will readily receive lighted stubs or butts and quickly extinguish them.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an extinguisher having means for knocking off the stubs or butts from cigarette ejector pads into the ash tray.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an extinguisher that may be easily cleansed without affecting the working parts or the functioning of the device.

According to the general features of this invention, there is provided an extinguisher including snutfer tubes for receiving smoking articles therein. The tubes are provided with slots and an ejector support is fixedly mounted opposite the slots. A cigarette ejector including a tubular handle member is rotatably mounted in telescoped assembly with the ejector support. A knock-off arm is mounted on the tubular handle member and combination snulfer and ejector pads are disposed in the Means is provided joining the pads with the tubular handle member so they may move vertically together on the ejector support. The means also enables the tubular handle member and the knock-off arm to be rotated over the pad to knock cigarette butts off of the pads.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein a single embodiment and in Which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an ash tray with a combination snuifer and ejector in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 isa perspective view similar to FIGURE 1 with parts broken away and the tray cover raised to show details of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse central vertical section tlhlrgugzh the ash tray and ejector mechanism shown in FIGURE 3a is an enlarged fragmentary section illustrating certain details of the mechanism shown in the lower central portion of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the ash tray shown in FIGURE 2 with the ejector shown in full and dotted lines;

FIGURE 5 is a partially fragmentary rear view of the extinguisher with portions shown in section;

FIGURE 6 is a rear view similar to FIGURE 5 showing the ejector in a partially elevated position; and

FIGURE 7 is a rear view similar to FIGURE 6 with portions shown in section and showing the ejector in an "ice elevated position illustrating the manner in which the butts may be knocked into the tray.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a cupshaped ash tray. A cover 11 is pivotally mounted on a pair of pins 12 to the tray 10. A spring 13 is secured at one of its ends to the cover 11 adjacent one of the pivots 12. An opposite end of the spring 13 is secured to a side wall of the ash tray 10.

An extinguisher 14 which includes snuffing tubes 16 is mounted on a bottom of the ash tray 10. The snufiing tubes have a common base 15 at the lower ends thereof and are open at their opposite ends for receiving cigarettes or cigars therein. When a cigarette or cigar butt or stub indicated generally at B is inserted lit end first into one of the tubes 16, the flame or fire on the butt will become extinguished. As illustrated, a pair of tubes 16 have been provided although it will be appreciated that any suitable number may be employed, as desired. In addition, the tubes 16 may be secured to the base in any suitable way such as by means of a weld W (FIGURE 2) and the like. The tubes 16 are provided with vertically extended radially confronting radial slots 17, 17.

Mounted between the spaced tubes 16 in alignment with the slots 17 is an ejector support or pin 18. The pin 18 is in threaded assembly at its lower end with the base 15. An opposite headed end 18a of the support or pin 18 is provided with a stop shoulder 18!). A cigarette ejector 19 is mounted on the ejector support 18. The ejector 19 includes a tubular handle member 20 rotatably mounted in telescoped assembly with the ejector support or pin 18. A knock-off arm 22 is integrally mounted on the tubular handle member 20.

The ejector pads 21 may be made as a stamping from sheet material and include an enlarged central portion which is apertured in order to fit over the shank of the plug 23 as seen in FIG. 3a. The thickness of the material used for the pads is such that it will not bend in ordinary use.

In order to secure the pads 21 in unitary assembly with the handlemember 20, a plug 23 is press-fitted (FIGURE 3:!) into a lower open end of the tubular handle member 20 or otherwise suitably secured therewith; The plug 23 includes a flanged end 23a on which the pads 21 are carried. The plug 23 has a central hole 21b, as indicated in FIG. 3a and is press-fitted into the lower end of the tube 20. The flanged end 23a is sufiiciently spaced below the end of the tube 20 so that the adjacent radially inner portions of the pads 21 will'be positioned between the lower end of the tube 20 and the upper face of the flanged end 23a of the plug 23 so that the pads 21 will remain flat and planar when the vertical position of the tube 20 and of the pads 21 is varied. The diameter of the hole 21b is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the pin 18 to enable the plug 23 to be rotated in unison with the handle 20 relative to the pads 21.

An opposite end of the tubular member 20 is provided with a closure cap 24 which may be press-fitted in as sembly with the tubular handle member 20.

' Operation After a cigarette butt B has been dropped into the tube 16, and after it is extinguished, the handle member 20 may be elevated to cause the pads 21 to be simultaneously elevated as shown in FIGURE 6. As the handle member 2%) is drawn vertically upwardly, the butt B is also moved vertically upwardly out of the tube 16. It will be appreciated that the stop shoulder 18b is spaced above said tubes 16 at a sufficient distance so that when the handle member 20 is elevated the rotatable knock-off armis also disposed above the tubes 16 so that the arm may be rotated with the handle member free of the tubes. Stated otherwise, the length of the tube or handle member 20 and the positioning of the parts 21 and the deflector 22 thereon is so related to the height of the tubes 16 that when the lower end of the tube or handle member 20 abuts the lower stop shoulder or face 18b of the head 18a, the deflector arm 22 is located imme diately above the upper ends of the tubes 16 so as to be properly placed to deflect and remove cigarette butts which may rest upon the pads 21. Upon rotation of the handle member 26, the knock-off arm 22 can be rotated through 360 to push any cigarette butts B on the pads 21 off of the pads allowing them to drop into the cupshaped tray ll), as shown in FIGURE 7.

The components of my ash tray and its extinguisher 14 may be comprised of any suitable materials preferably of a type which will not become corroded during use.

It will further be appreciated that while the extinguisher 14 is preferably provided with a knock-off arm 22, the extinguisher 14 may be operated without the arm. In other words, if the arm .22 is eliminated, the tubular member may be vertically moved in such a way as to cause the pads to carry the butts vertically upwardly and out of the tubes so that the butts may fall into the tray. It is found that where a knock-off arm is employed, any ashes or butts on the pads will be more thoroughly removed therefrom.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a cup-shaped ash tray,

a pair of vertically extending snulrer tubes sized for receiving smoking articles therein and being carried on a bottom of a cup-shaped ash tray,

said tubes having confronting slots, a vertically extending ejector support mounted between said slots and adjacent said snufier tubes,

a cigarette ejector incuding a tubular handle member rotatably mounted in telescoped assembly with said ejector support,

a knock-off arm extended radially outwardly of said tubular handle member in assembly therewith and vertically movable so as to be disposed above said snuffer tubes, and

combination snuffer and ejector pads secured on opposite sides of said tubular handle member and extended through said slot and disposed in said snufier tubes on which cigarette butts are engaged,

said pads being vertically movable in said tubes in unison with said tubular handle member and with said tubular handle member and said knock-ofl arm being rotatable relative to said pads, and

said snuffer tubes to knock cigarette butts off of said pads into the cup-shaped ash tray when said pads are lifted and disposed in a position above thetop ends of said snuffer tubes.

2. An extinguisher comprising a base, a

a pair of vertically extending snuffer tubes sized for receivingsmoking articles therein and being carried on said base,

said tubes having confronting slots, a vertically extending ejector support mounted between said slots adjacent said snuffer tubes,

a cigarette ejector including a tubular handle member rotatably mounted in telescoped assembly with said ejector support,

a knock-off arm extended radially outwardly of said tubular handle member in assembly therewith and vertically movable so as to be disposed above said snuffer tubes, and

combination snufier and ejector pads secured on opposite sides of said tubular handle member and extended through said slots and disposed in said snulier tubes on which cigarette butts are engaged,

said pads being vertically movable in said tubes in umson with said tubular handle member and with said tubular handle member and said knock-oil arm being rotatable relative to said pads and said snufi'er tubes upon being moved above said tubes to knock cigarette butts off of said pads free of said tubes.

3. In an extinguisher including spaced vertically arranged snuller tubes sized for receiving smoking articles therein,

said tubes having slots,

a vertically arranged ejector support mounted opposite said slots and said snuifer tubes and having a stop shoulder vertically disposed above said tubes,

a cigarette vejector including a tubular handle member rotatably mounted in telescoped assembly with said ejector support and having an arm stop,

a knock-off arm extended radially outwardly of said tubular handle member in assembly and vertically movable therewith, and

combination snutfer and ejector pads secured on said tubular handle member and extended through said slots and disposed in said shutter tubes on which cigarette butts are engaged, 7

said pads being vertically movable in said tubes in unison with said tubular handle member for engaging said arm stop against said stop shoulder positioning said knock-off arm vertically above said tubes and with said tubular handle member and said knock-oil arm being rotatable relative to said pads and said snulfer tubes to knock cigarette butts ofi of said pads.

4. In an extinguisher including vertically arranged snufier tubes sized for receiving smoking articles therein,

said tubes having slots,

a vertically arranged ejector support fixedly mounted opposite said slots,

a cigarette ejector including a tubular handle member rotatably mounted in telescoped assembly with said ejector support and with said handle member being movable relative to said ejector support,

a knock-off, arm extended radially outwardly of said tubular handle member in assembly therewith,

combination snuiter and ejector pads extended through said slots and disposed in said snuifer tubes on which cigarette butts are engaged, and

means joining said pads with said tubular handle memher for vertical movement together on said ejector support permitting said knock-oft arm to be disposed over said tubes,

said means enabling said tubular handle member and said knock ofi arm to be rotated over said pads to knock cigarette butts oil? of said pads upon raising said handle member and said knock-off arm so that the knock-elf arm overlies said tubes and can be rotated free of said tubes.

5. In an extinguisher including vertically arranged snuffer tubes sized for receiving smoking articles therein,

said tubes having slots,

acigarette ejector including a handle member rotatably mounted adjacent said tubes,

a knock-off arm integral with said handle member and extended radially outwardly thereof,

combination snufifer .and ejector pads projecting into said slots and disposed in said snulfer tubes and on which butts are engaged,

means joining said pads with said handle member permitting the handle member to rotate relative to the tubes upon the arm being raised above said tubes, said handle member and said knock-off arm being rotatable over said pads to knock cigarette butts 01f of said pads upon raising said handle member and said knock-off arm so that the knock-oil arm overlies said tubes and can be rotated free of said tubes. 6. In an extinguisher for snufiing cigarettes and the like,

a vertically arranged snufier tube sized for receiving smoking articles therein, said tube having a vertical slot at one side,

a vertically reciprocable handle member rotatably mounted on one side of said tube opposite said slot,

a knock-off arm integral with said handle member and extended radially outwardly thereof, and

a combination snuffer and ejector pad disposed in said snuffer tube and extended through said slot and joined with said handle member for contemporaneous vertical movement in the same direction with said knock-off arm and said handle member, the handle member being movable into an elevated position for disposing said knock-oil arm above a top end of said tube and with said handle member and said knock-off arm being pivotally movable relative to said pad and free of said tube to knock a cigarette butt off of said pad.

7. The extinguisher of claim 6 further characterized by the stop means being operatively connected to said handle member and'to said arm for limiting vertical movement of said arm and said handle member limiting the extent of upward vertical movement of said arm to a position a vertically arranged snuffer tube sized for receiving smoking articles therein, said tube having a vertical slot at one side,

a vertically reciprocable tubular handle member rotatably mounted on one side of said tube opposite said slot,

a pin fixedly mounted interiorly of said tubular handle member and having a stop overlying said tube,

a knock-off arm integral with said handle member and extended radially outwardly thereof, and

a combination snuffer and ejector pad disposed in said snutfer tube and extended through said slot and joined with said handle member for contemporaneous vertical movement in the same direction with said knock-off arm and said handle member, the handle member being movable into an elevated position for disposing said knock-off arm above a top end of said tube and with said handle member and said knock-off arm being pivotally movable relative to said pad free of said tube to knock a cigarette butt off of said pad, said stop being operatively connected with said handle member to limit the extent of its upward vertical movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,550,394 Ruskay Aug. 18, 1925 1,999,933 Jacob Apr. 30, 1935 2,575,261 De La Torre Nov. 13, 1951 

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A CUP-SHAPED ASH TRAY, A PAIR OF VERTICALLY EXTENDING SNUFFER TUBES SIZED FOR RECEIVING SMOKING ARTICLES THEREIN AND BEING CARRIED ON A BOTTOM OF A CUP-SHAPED ASH TRAY, SAID TUBES HAVING CONFRONTING SLOTS, A VERTICALLY EXTENDING EJECTOR SUPPORT MOUNTED BETWEEN SAID SLOTS AND ADJACENT SAID SNUFFER TUBES, A CIGARETTE EJECTOR INCUDING A TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN TELESCOPE ASSEMBLY WITH SAID EJECTOR SUPPORT, A KNOCK-OFF ARM EXTENDED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF SAID TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER IN ASSEMBLY THEREWITH AND VERTICALLY MOVABLE SO AS TO BE DISPOSED ABOVE SAID SNUFFER TUBES, AND COMBINATION SNUFFER AND EJECTOR PADS SECURED ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER AND EXTENDED THROUGH SAID SLOT AND DISPOSED IN SAID SNUFFER TUBES ON WHICH CIGARETTE BUTTS ARE ENGAGED, SAID PADS BEING VERTICALLY MOVABLE IN SAID TUBES IN UNISON WITH SAID TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER AND WITH SAID TUBULAR HANDLE MEMBER AND SAID KNOCK-OFF ARM BEING ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID PADS, AND SAID SNUFFER TUBES TO KNOCK CIGARETTE BUTTS OFF OF SAID PADS INTO THE CUP-SHAPED ASH TRAY WHEN SAID PADS ARE LIFTED AND DISPOSED IN A POSITION ABOVE THE TOP ENDS OF SAID SNUFFER TUBES. 